Problem Solving

1
Problem Solving

• by Suman Chandrawat
• for MC 72
• with Dr. Pritchard

2
Introduction

• Its been only 24 hours since your final exam and
  
• you have already forgotten 2/3 of the course.
• Now you feel as if all the money you paid for the
  course
• is just wasted!

3

• Here we have the solution
• try learning through a new technique called
• Problem solving
• and the material will stay in your memory for
  ever!
• We assure you not only be able to recall the
  knowledge you learned by Problem Solving but
• also be able to apply it in required areas giving
  you a through understanding of the topic.

4
Task

• Here we will make you do an exercise in steps,
  which will give you a fair understanding about
  how to use problem solving in giving instruction.
  
• So if we need to understand difference between
  weight and mass, this is the way Problem solving
  method can be incorporated in giving
  instruction.

5
By the end of this Problem Solving WebQuest you
will

• Appreciate how far better this method of learning
  is.
• Have a better understanding of the topic.
• Be comfortable with further application of this
  topic.

6
Process

• Did you ever wonder why a ship sails south
  (towards the equator) before heading east?
• Or
• Why in the chemistry lab, elements are measured
  in mass and not weight?
• Or
• (fill in your own problem on weight vs. mass)?
• After doing this WebQuest, you should be able to
  answer these questions.

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This is how we include problem solving into an
instructional plan

• Step1 Please go to the following links and read
  about
• Weight http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weight
• Mass http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass
• Step2 Now I want you to refer to this link
  (http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acceleration_due_to_
  gravity) and come up with mathematical relation
  between mass, weight acceleration due to
  gravity.

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• Step4 After having theoretical background, I
  want you to solve
• the numerical given below.
• Problem If Kellys weight is 110.1
  lbs and acceleration
• due to gravity on earth is 9.8m/s2,
  what would be her
• mass? (Given 4.45N1 lb)
• Answer Mass50 kg
• Step5 I want you to go to this link
  (www.astronomynotes.com/gravappl/s4.htm) and try
  to understand why mass remains constant, while
  weight varies.

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Evaluation

• Answer this question
• Why you weigh less on the moon, but your mass
  stays the same?
• Which quantity remains unchanged for an object,
  irrespective of place?
• Now that you know how to solve a problem, now go
  to
• http//www.pbli.org/pbl/pbl.htm and
• http//www.ascd.org/portal/site/ascd/menuitem.a4be
  fa0de1b8d1fddeb3ffdb62108a0c/
• Write a short essay describing how to use problem
  solving in teaching?
• Kindly mail me your responses for above
  evaluation.

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Conclusion

• Now that you have been through this Web Quest,
  dont you think
• Problem solving is one of the best ways of
  learning things as
• compared to other traditional methods and let
  students explore
• the topic on their own. Also it encourages active
  participation
• from learners, and hence helps learning go into
  long term
• memory.